We build the kingdom best, in an...

1. Atmosphere of Praise
2. Atmosphere of Soul Winning
3. Atmosphere of Love
4. Atmosphere of Learning

1. Atmosphere of Praise
   1. Just a quick review and references:
      1. The Psalmist gave us instructions to praise the Lord. (Psalm 148-150)
      2. The Apostle Paul tells us why Jesus is worthy of praise. (Philippians 2:5-11)
      3. John the Revelator tells us that praise is going to be a major part of the heavenly experience (Revelation 4)
   2. Let's make a determined commitment that we will not lose the joy of praise to our Lord for His love for us and for the world that needs to hear of our love for Him!
   3. Are you actively cultivating in your heart an atmosphere of praise to our Lord Jesus? If so, don't lose it. If not, why not


2. Atmosphere of Soul Winning
   1. Solomon, King of Israel, son of David, complimented soul winners in the great book of Proverbs.

      “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls.” (Proverbs 11:30)

   2. It is true that we do not do the saving. Only God can do that, but we are called to get in on the process by living our Christian existence in such a way that we attract folk to Jesus.
   3. Does your life attract folk to Jesus or does your attitude and actions drive folk away? What is the focus of your life?
   4. There's a right way to witness and a wrong way:

      A drunk is on a bus with a nun. She wants to witness to him, and while looking for an opportunity, he says to her: “Pardon me, but what causes arthritis?” She replies, “Drinking, smoking and carousing, why do you ask?” “Well, I just heard that the Pope has arthritis.” Not exatly what she wished to accommplish.

   5. Two good approaches to soul wining:
      1. Relational: cultivate relationships with people in your environment.

         (Neighborhood, School, Work)

      2. Intentional: speak to someone about Jesus on purpose
   6. Both of these have to be personal. You won't be a soul winner in a vacuum!
   7. If we are to be a kingdom building church, we must call people to faith in Jesus, and we must issue that call in our preaching, teaching, activities, parties, trips, praise, and in our relationships within the working of our church. In all we do, we must point people to Jesus.
   8. Are you actively cultivating in your heart an atmosphere of soul winning to our Lord Jesus? If so, don't lose it. If not, why not


3. Atmosphere of Love
   1. Three objects that should be the direct recipients of our Christian love.:
      1. Love for God. (Matthew 22:36-40). Attendance in the Bible study, Worship attendance, Tithing/ giving, Soul winning and the like are all needed, but none are greater than the need to love the Lord Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. All the others will be taken care of when we love Him.
      2. Love for Jesus' Church. (John 13:34-35). It is true that we are a family and families sometimes have differences that create great problems between themselves. But, we ought to strive to be above that kind of thing. Now, I'll be the first to go to battle over theological heresy, but some of these little molehiles that we turn into mountains need to go. “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” (I John 3:14)
      3. Love for the lost. Could there ever be any doubt that Jesus loved/loves the lost of this world? He left us with the directive to go to the lost and lead them to Him.
   2. Are you actively cultivating in your heart an atmosphere of love to our Lord Jesus, His church, and the lost? If so, don't lose it. If not, why not


4. Atmosphere of Learning
   1. Remembering our passage in Matthew 28, look at verse 20: “... teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
   2. We will never get too old to give up on learning. I know that we say that we do, but we don't. I also know that there are extenuating circumstances that make learning difficult sometimes. (Alzheimer's, other types of dementia, etc.) Let's just say it this way; as long as we have a mind, there are two matters to keep in mind as we cultivate an atmosphere of learning.
      1. Learning for ourselves
      2. Training others in soul winning and ministry
   3. Our Lord instructed us to “make disciples.”
   4. A disciple is defined as a follower. Remember when Jesus called His disciples to, “follow Me?” (Get in the way with Me. Go where I go, do what I do, say what I say, act like I act, etc.)
   5. What ought we to include in our Spiritual atmosphere of learning?
   6. The Word of God.
      1. We need to grow up in the truth of God. (I Corinthians 3:1-3)
      2. We need to be careful of what we teach and what we are taught. (I Peter 1:22-2:3; II Peter 2:1)
   7. The example of Christian living.
      1. The Apostle Paul gives us some great instruction on this matter. “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1)
      2. Listen to these adages.
         1. Your life is the only Bible some people will ever read.
         2. I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day.
         3. What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear a word you say.
   8. Are you actively cultivating in your heart an atmosphere of learning in your life and in the church? If so, don’t lose it. If not, why not?